Social Studies Degrees

The program encompasses two major concentrations — Africana studies and Latin American studies — and four topical minor concentrations: African studies, African American studies, Latin American studies and Caribbean studies.

Africana studies is an interdisciplinary program that studies the history and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora.

The Latin American studies program offers students the opportunity to undertake the comparative study of Latin American society and culture, drawing from such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, literature and literary criticism, and political science.

Both programs provide a suitable background for engaging in graduate studies or professional work in a variety of fields including government service, journalism, international development, and teaching.

Africana and Latin American Studies

The program encompasses two major concentrations — Africana studies and Latin American studies — and four topical minor concentrations: African studies, African American studies, Latin American studies and Caribbean studies.

Africana studies is an interdisciplinary program that studies the history and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora.

The Latin American studies program offers students the opportunity to undertake the comparative study of Latin American society and culture, drawing from such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, literature and literary criticism, and political science.

Both programs provide a suitable background for engaging in graduate studies or professional work in a variety of fields including government service, journalism, international development, and teaching.

Africana and Latin American Studies

The program encompasses two major concentrations — Africana studies and Latin American studies — and four topical minor concentrations: African studies, African American studies, Latin American studies and Caribbean studies.

Africana studies is an interdisciplinary program that studies the history and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora.

The Latin American studies program offers students the opportunity to undertake the comparative study of Latin American society and culture, drawing from such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, literature and literary criticism, and political science.

Both programs provide a suitable background for engaging in graduate studies or professional work in a variety of fields including government service, journalism, international development, and teaching.

Native American Studies

Colgate’s topical concentration in Native American studies offers students the opportunity to undertake a comparative and historical study of the pre-Columbian, colonial and contemporary cultures of North, Central and South America.

The required and elective courses are drawn from a wide range of disciplines, representing the various topical and areal interests of Colgate faculty members whose specializations concern the art, archaeology, culture, geography, history, literature, religion and Euro-American contact of native populations in the New World.

This topical concentration provides an excellent background for professional work or continuing studies in the areas of inter-American relations, Latin American studies, anthropology, archaeology, history, government services, art history, museum studies and religion.

Africana and Latin American Studies

The program encompasses two major concentrations — Africana studies and Latin American studies — and four topical minor concentrations: African studies, African American studies, Latin American studies and Caribbean studies.

Africana studies is an interdisciplinary program that studies the history and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora.

The Latin American studies program offers students the opportunity to undertake the comparative study of Latin American society and culture, drawing from such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, literature and literary criticism, and political science.

Both programs provide a suitable background for engaging in graduate studies or professional work in a variety of fields including government service, journalism, international development, and teaching.

Organization

Director
• Antonio Barrera, associate professor of history

Coordinators
• African-American Studies: Kermit Campbell, associate professor of writing and rhetoric
• African Studies: Mary Moran, professor of sociology and anthropology and Africana and Latin American Studies
• Caribbean Studies: Kezia Page, Assistant Professor of English
• Latin American Studies:

Advisory Committee
Antonio Barrera(director), Kermit Campbell, Michael Haines, Jay Mandle, Brian Moore, Mary Moran and Lourdes Rojas-Paiewonsky

Africana and Latin American Studies

The program encompasses two major concentrations — Africana studies and Latin American studies — and four topical minor concentrations: African studies, African American studies, Latin American studies and Caribbean studies.

Africana studies is an interdisciplinary program that studies the history and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora.

The Latin American studies program offers students the opportunity to undertake the comparative study of Latin American society and culture, drawing from such disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, literature and literary criticism, and political science.

Both programs provide a suitable background for engaging in graduate studies or professional work in a variety of fields including government service, journalism, international development, and teaching.

Organization

Director
• Antonio Barrera, associate professor of history

Coordinators
• African-American Studies: Kermit Campbell, associate professor of writing and rhetoric
• African Studies: Mary Moran, professor of sociology and anthropology and Africana and Latin American Studies
• Caribbean Studies: Kezia Page, Assistant Professor of English
• Latin American Studies:

Advisory Committee
Antonio Barrera(director), Kermit Campbell, Michael Haines, Jay Mandle, Brian Moore, Mary Moran and Lourdes Rojas-Paiewonsky

Jewish Studies

The Jewish Studies Program is a vibrant and growing academic course of study affiliated with the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies. The Program seeks to acquaint students with the breadth of Jewish Culture–literary, historical, theological, social, and political–and to introduce them to life and culture in the modern State of Israel. Since Hebrew has been the primary vehicle of Jewish expression in Israel and in the diaspora, students are encouraged to acquire a working knowledge of the Hebrew language. With these goals in mind, students take courses in four broad areas of Jewish Studies: history, literature and thought, Israeli society and politics, and Hebrew. The interdisciplinary nature of Jewish Studies allows students to take a wide range of courses in different departments, including History, Religion, English, and Government.

Requirements for the Minor in Jewish Studies:

Although no Major is offered at this time, students may elect a Minor in Jewish Studies that combines well with many of the Major Programs offered by the College and that represents the humanistic perspective of a liberal arts education. Students may also petition the Independent Study Committee to pursue an Independent Major in Jewish Studies.

The Minor requires the completion of a minimum of six courses: two core courses in History (RE 181 and RE 182) and four other courses approved for the Minor in Jewish Studies from the those listed below. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue the study of Hebrew through one of the following options: two semesters of Biblical Hebrew (RE 201 and 202), two semesters of modern Hebrew (HB 125 and 126), or Hebrew study abroad. Students may count Hebrew courses toward the four elective courses required for this minor.

In addition to the Program’s academic curriculum, Jewish Studies sponsors numerous, related events that range from guest lectures such as the Berger Lecture, in which renowned speakers are invited to Colby to share their expertise and researches on the Holocaust; the Lipman Lecture, which brings speakers to campus to speak on issues as diverse as Jews in Rock and Roll or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and Hillel activities, informal academic seminars, and Jewish Studies dinners and socials. The Program features a warm and close community of faculty and students, whose shared interests in the meaningful pursuit of knowledge and experience in Jewish Studies ensures a lively and stimulating course of study.

African-American Studies

The African-American Studies Program at Colby is an interdisciplinary program of courses designed to expose students to the history and culture of African-Americans in the United States and to connect those experiences to the literatures, histories and cultures of Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Students may elect a minor in the program built around courses in anthropology, economics, government, history, literature, music, religion, and sociology. Students may also elect to pursue a combined African American and American Studies major.
In the late 1960s, a College committee was created to expand Colby’s participation in this burgeoning field. This led to curriculum development, exchanges of visiting scholars, special lectures and other intercultural programs, and student exchanges with predominantly African-American institutions. Formerly called Black Studies, the program has maintained a special relationship with other College programs such as the American Studies Program, the Colby College Black History Month Celebration, the Office of Intercultural Affairs, and the Ralph J. Bunche Symposium, which sponsors events that explore the themes of diversity and human rights.

Students participating in African-American Studies usually major in English, American studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Government, or History. The history courses taken within the program may be applied to a field of concentration within the history major. A student with any major may take a variety of courses in African-American Studies. Those who wish may be assigned an adviser in the program as well as one in their major department.

The major in African-American and American Studies is built around a core of courses in history, literature, and the social sciences. The minor in African-American Studies draws upon a strong core of courses that include African-American Culture in the United States, African-American History, several music courses, and a wonderful range of courses in African-American literature.

African-American Studies

The African-American Studies Program at Colby is an interdisciplinary program of courses designed to expose students to the history and culture of African-Americans in the United States and to connect those experiences to the literatures, histories and cultures of Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Students may elect a minor in the program built around courses in anthropology, economics, government, history, literature, music, religion, and sociology. Students may also elect to pursue a combined African American and American Studies major. More…
News and Events

In the late 1960s, a College committee was created to expand Colby’s participation in this burgeoning field. This led to curriculum development, exchanges of visiting scholars, special lectures and other intercultural programs, and student exchanges with predominantly African-American institutions. Formerly called Black Studies, the program has maintained a special relationship with other College programs such as the American Studies Program, the Colby College Black History Month Celebration, the Office of Intercultural Affairs, and the Ralph J. Bunche Symposium, which sponsors events that explore the themes of diversity and human rights.

Students participating in African-American Studies usually major in English, American studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Government, or History. The history courses taken within the program may be applied to a field of concentration within the history major. A student with any major may take a variety of courses in African-American Studies. Those who wish may be assigned an adviser in the program as well as one in their major department.

The major in African-American and American Studies is built around a core of courses in history, literature, and the social sciences. The minor in African-American Studies draws upon a strong core of courses that include African-American Culture in the United States, African-American History, several music courses, and a wonderful range of courses in African-American literature.

Asian Studies

Asian culture in America has become more pervasive and Asians’ acclimation more complete than that of other immigrants. Whether it is the culture that has become more accepted and fascinating to Americans or whether it is the individuals themselves who have better acclimated to American culture is examined in Contexts magazine (Winter 2004).
Since its inception in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation region has consistently been the most economically dynamic part of the world. In its first decade, APEC Member Economies generated nearly 70 percent of global economic growth and the APEC region consistently outperformed the rest of the world, even during the Asian financial crisis.
The region includes some of the world’s major sources of conflict (for example in Kashmir, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, in Aceh or Mindanao, in the Taiwan Straits, the South China Sea and the inter-Korean border). A number of Asian states have a nuclear capability. Asian countries have always played a major part in the working of the UN and its various bodies.

The Asian Studies major is designed to acquaint students with the great cultures and societies of Asia, focusing primarily those of China and Japan. The major is interdisciplinary and requires that the students take courses in the areas of art history, history, literature, and religion, and suggests that they also take courses in economics, music, and political science. Travel and intensive study in the region is also an integral part of Coe’s Asian Studies program.